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After a two-month downward trend, retail sales at bookstores bounced back in August. Preliminary figures recently released by the Bureau of the Census show bookstore sales in August 2008 increased 5.4 percent compared to August 2007.
Sales during August are estimated at $2,436 million, compared to sales of $2,311 million for the same period last year. For the year to date, bookstore sales are up 2.5 percent.
Total retail and food service sales fared worse than bookstore sales in August. Retail sales were $390.5 billion in August 2008, compared to $392.1 billion in August 2007, a decrease of 0.4 percent.
| Period | 2007 Final | 2008 | % Change |
| January | 2,195 | 2,285 | 4.1 |
| February | 1,030 | 1,144 | 11.1 |
| March | 1,019 | 1,019 | 0.0 |
| April | 926 | 1,002 | 8.2 |
| May | 1,125 | 1,154 | 2.6 |
| June | 1,152 | 1,074 | (6.7) |
| July | 1,213 | 1,124 | (7.4) |
| August | 2,311 | 2,436 (p) | 5.4 |
| YTD | 10,971 | 11,240 (p) | 2.5 |
(p) Preliminary figure
Note: Estimates reflect sales of all types of participating bookstore, including trade, college, religious, chain stores (including superstores), and others. A bookstore is defined as any retail establishment with sales comprised of more than 50 percent new books and periodicals, and estimates include sales of all products in these stores.